Means for cleaning guns.



R. A. FESSENDEN.

MEANS FOR CLEANING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. s, 1906.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

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v or soldier in the same manner as an ordinary.

UNrTED Satans PirENT Ormea.

BEGINALD A. FESSENDEN,' 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

MEANS ron. cLEANING GUNS.

.i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Application led October 6, 1908. Serial 1Io.`.337,736.`

.improvements the following is a specification.

The invention herein described relates to means for cleaning lire arms after they have been fouled by discharge. U

Heretofore, it has been usual after firlng guns to clean them by. means of a rod carrying on its end cleaning implements. The cleaning implements have been more or less bulky and tedious and annoying to use and consequentl gunsV 'are frequently left uncleanedV unt1l/'the inside of the gun becomes rusted and corroded. 4

The object of my invention is to secure an easier and simpler means of cleaning re arms. Y y

In the accompanying drawlngs forming apart of` this speciiic'ation Figure 1 1s' a cross sectional view showing a form of apparatus in which a compressed gas is used. Fig. 2 shows a cross sectional view of an apparatus in which the @as is` generated at the time of use. Fig. 3s ows a cross sectional view-.1n which an explosive compound is used. Fig. 4 shows a cross sectiona view in which the device is manually operated. Fig. 5 shows a cross sectional view in which I show a second form of device using a compressed gas.

In the practice of the invention the cleaning implement is made in the form of a cartridge which is carried by the sportsman cartridge and is inserted in the fire arm when it is desired to clean the same.

In Fig. 1, 1 is the shell containing a cylinder of compressed gas- 2 sealed by the seal 3, said seal being adapted to be punched by a forward motion of the pin 4.

5 is one or more wads, 6 is a compound of anysuitable form of lubricant and anticorrosive grease, preferably a mixture of oleate of calcium and graphite. Oleate of calcium'which is preferably made by shaking up slaked lime and water with sperm oil I have found to be a very admirable non-corrosive lubricant.

7 is a cleaning wad made in the shape of a bullet and preferably consisting of acloth impregnated with rouge or sand or similar detergent.

To use this form of cleaning cartridge the cartridge is inserted in the gun and the trigger pulled, thereby puncturing the seal 3 and causing the gas to esca e and 4expand and drive out the cleaning bul et 7, the lubricant 6 and cleanin wad 5. Any suitable gas may be used, or example compressed nitrogen.

Another form in which a gas is used as the motive power is shown in Fig. 5. Here the gas is contained in a chamber 31, being pumped therein by an ordinary bicycle pump, which may bewound with copper wlre to enable it to give pressures up to 150 pounds per square inch. 32 is a valve, 33 is' a spring for holding the valve closed, 37 a locking pin and slot, 30 a tube forming a part of the shell but movable with reference to the chamber 31, 36 the cleaning wad, 35 the lubricant, 34 the cleanin bullet. In the operation of this device t e cartridge is placed in the barrel .of the gun. The barrel is then closed and in doing this the cleaning wad 36 is pressed against the valve pin 32, allowing the compressed gas to esca e and propel the. cleaning wad out of the arrel.

The tube 30 cannot escape as it is held by the shoulder in the gun.

2 shows a device in which the propellmg power is generated by the action of a tube full of water 12 on a body of quick lime 15 or calcium carbid or hydrolith. 8 is a movable tube, 9 is the base of the shell, 10 is a pin fixed to the base of the shell, 12a tube full of water, 38 a concentric tube, 39 and 40 are seals for sealing the tube 12, 13 and 14 are wads, 11 is the lubricant, 16 is the cleaning bullet. On placing this cartridge in the gun and closing the breech mechanism the pin 10 forces the small tube 38 forward, rupturing the seals 39 and 40 and the water comes into contact with the quick lime 15 and is turned into steam the steam furnishing the propulsive force, or hydrogen of the hydrolith.

In Fig. 3, 17 is the shell, 21 the cleaning wad, 22 1s the lubricant, 8 the cleaning bullet, 19 a powder preferably containing a large proportion o lan alkalin salt so that the products of its combustion will be alkaline rather than acid and 20 is a detonator. In this case the pro ulsive effect is furnished by the explosion o the powder 19.

In Fig. 4 the shell 23 contains the cleaning Wads 28, the lubricant 29 and the scouring Wads 27, the vcord 25 and the small Weight 24. The cleaning Wads and scouring Wads are connected together by the rod 26 to which the cord 25 is fastened. In practice 41 is a paper cap formed of thin paper pasted over the end of the cleaning cartridge. In o eration the paper cap 41 is broken o andJ the cartridge is slipped into the gun. The n is then inverted so that the small weig t falls through it and the cord is then seized and the scouring wads, lubricant and cleaning Wads are pulled through the barrel.

By the use of this invention the matter of cleaning guns is Very much ysimplified and the annoyance consequent thereto is done away with. l All that it is necessary for the s ortsman or soldier to do is to take two or t ree cleaning cartridges, which can be loaded up at leisure or purchased ready loaded and when the time comes for cleaning the gun insert a cleaning cartridge.

What I claim is:

1. Means for cleaning gunbarrels, comprising a cartridge having a rojectile or cleaning plug formed by a c eaning wad impregnated with a detergent, `and a bod of non-corrosive lubricant ehind said wa the cartridge also containing means for forcing the projectile through a gun barrel;

substantially as described.

2. Means for cleaning gun barrels, comprising a cartridge having a cleaning plug or projectile formed by a ullet-shaped Wad cassa@ said wad, a second wad behind said body of lubricant, and means also contained lwithin the cartridge for forcingit through a gun barrel, substantially as described.

4. Means for cleaning ns, com rising a cartridgercontaining a c eaning p ug, having an alkaline substance and a'rust preventive substance, and means also contained within the cartridge for forcing it through a n barrel, such means being of a non-corrosive character, substantially as described.

5. Means for cleaning gun barrels comprising a cartridge containing a cleaning plug, expansive means for forcing the plug through the barrel, and devices automatically operated by the closing of the gun breech for freeing the plug-forcing means.

Signed at Brant Rock in the county of Plymouth and State of Mass. this 4th day of Oa. A. D. 1906.

REGINALDA. FESSENDEN.

Witnesses J Essin E. BENT, ADELEINE'WOLEVER. 

